Handpiece for tenpin-balls.



No. 676,024. Patented lune ll, l90l. S. BERENS.

- HANDPIECE FOR T'ENRIN BALLS.

(Application filed Aug. 81, 1900.)

(No Model.)

mt mm mill nu INOTO-LITNQ. wun wfou n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STANISLAUS BERENS, OF LAGRANGE, ILLINOIS.

HANDPIECE FOR TEN PIN-BALLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 676,024, dated June11, 1901.

Application filed August 31, 190

T0 at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, STANISLAUS BERENS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lagrange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Handpieces for 'Ienpin-Balls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a handpiece or holder to beused in the operation of throwing tenpin-balls or balls used in variousgames played on bowling-alleys; and it consists in certain peculiaritiesof the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the variousparts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth andspecifically claimed.

As is well known, the large balls used in playing tenpins or employedfor bowling are usually formed with two holes in which the thumband onefinger of the playerareinserted to enable him to hold the ball in theact of bowling the same. These openings or holes to some extent preventthe balls rolling smoothly and also cause them to chip off or break awayaround said openings, thus rendering the balls unfit for use in ashorttime. Besides, it has been found to be objectionable to insert the thumband finger in said openings for the reason that when wet withperspiration they will allow the ball to slip, and, furthermore, thethumb and finger are often injured by the great strain incident to theweight of the ball.

It is therefore the principal object of my invention to provide ahandpiece for bowlingballs which shall be simple and inexpensive inconstruction, strong and durable, and will afford a positive holder forthe ball and shall be of such construction that only one opening or holein the ball is necessary.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view inside elevation, partly in section, of a handpiece embodying myinvention; and Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view 0i Serial No. 28,646.(No model.)

forming the handpiece.

Referring to the drawings, A and A represent the members of thehandpiece, which are preferably made of metal and semicircular incross-section, as is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Theadjacent surfaces of the members or pieces A and A are preferably flatand slightly inclined from each other from their fulcrumed point. One ofthe pieces or members is usually provided near its front or lower endwith cars a, having openings to receive a bolt B, which passes throughsaid openings as well as openings in the other member or piece andpivotally sccures them together. The outer surface of the upper portionof each of the members A and A, or that part thereof which is gripped bythe hand of the user, is preferably formed with corrugations d toprevent the piece slipping from the hand. One of the members is providedwith a strap or piece or to lie over the back of the hand or fingers, soas to prevent the handpiece slipping from the hand. The lower ends ofthe members A and A are provided with external grooves e, in which islocated a rubber ring E, which will serve to hold said ends of themembers together and at the same time will cause them to engage thewalls of the opening in the ball, by reason of the yielding and adhesivequality or character of the rubber or material of which the ring E isformed.

In using my handpiece the lower portion of the members A and A, beingnormally held together by means of the ring E, are inserted in theopening of the ball, and the outer portions of the members are graspedwith the hand and pressed toward each other, which will cause the lowerportion of the handpiece to be divided and engage the walls of theopening in the ball until it is desired to release the same, when thepressure from the upper portion of the handpiece may be removed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A handpiece for bowling-balls, consisttaken at the fulcrum-point ofthe members 0 ing of two members pivotally secured tonular grooves, oneof said pieces having on gether, having on their lower ends an elasticits upper portion a strap or piece, and an elas- 10 ring to normallyhold said ends together and tie ring or band located in said grooves,subto engage the Walls of the opening in the ball, stantially asdescribed.

substantially as described. STANISLAUS BERENS.

2. A handpiece for bowling-balls, consist- \Vitnesses:

ing of two members pivotally secured to- CHAS. C. TILLMAN, gether andhaving near their lower ends an- 1 A. GUSTAFSON.

